Signaling apparatus for vehicles.



W. M. VOSS.

SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1914.

1,121,484; Patented Dacl 15,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H .W. M. voss. I SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY n. m;

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

2smETs-sKEnT 2.

WILLIS M. VOSS, OF TAMPA, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TQ-EEEDERICK J.

' CORTI'NA, 0F TAMPA, FLORIDA.

SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted Dec, 1914,

Application filed May 11, 1914. Serial No. 837,859.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS M. Ypss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tampa, in the county of Hillsborp and State of Florida, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Signaling Apparatus for Vehicles; and I do hereby de clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

he present invention relates to signal ng apparatus for vehicles, and has for an ob ect to provide a signaling apparatus for use on automobiles and the like for announcing to drivers of oncoming vehicles proposed changes in direction at cross streets and proposed stoppages with a view to reducing the liability of rear end collisions, and as sisting drivers to maintain the distance of fifteen or twenty feet between vehicles now generally required by trailic ordinance.

It is another object of the invention to provide a signaling apparatus for vehicles in which a horn or other suitable audible signal may be sounded at each actuation of the annunciators so as to attract the attention of drivers at the time the signal is being displayed. Such an arrangement of audible signal renders it unnecessary for drivers to constantly maintain a watchful eye upon the signaling apparatus of preceding vehicles, thereby tion from other traliic and pedestrians, but calls their-attention momentarily to the signal at the instant displayed.

A further object of the invention resides I in providing a signaling apparatus for veticularly pointed out in the hicles which will be operated from a convenient position by the driver, and which consists in a compact apparatus consisting of few and simple parts to which ready access may be had for purposes of repair and renewal.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter disclosed and parclaims. 1'

in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a signaling apparatus constructed in accordance with the diverting their atten-.

present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a diagram of the system of circuits em ployed to actuate the various devices ofthe apparatus. Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the apparatus shown applied to a vehicle indicated in dotted lines; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of a steering wheel illustrating a convenient location of the controller means of the signaling apparatus.

Referring more particular to the drawings, wherein one embodiment of my invention is illustrated, 1 designates a bottom, 2 and 3, respectively, side and end walls, and 4 a top, of a casing wherein the various devices may be conveniently mounted, said casing being provided with brackets or suitthe longitudinal walls 2 of the casing, equidistantly to either side of the center thereof. Each annunciator hand 8 and 9 is removably held to move with its respective rockshaft 10 or 11 by means of nuts 12 and 13.

The annunciator hands 8 and 9 are arranged to normally occupy the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, which is then at rest or nonindicating position, and to be actuated by means, hereinafter more fully described, to assume the horizontal position shown 'in dotted lines. The annunciator hand 8, carried by the rock-shaft 10, is a right hand, and when elevated to position announces that the vehicle is about to turn to the right into a cross street, as designated by the letter R placed in the upper right hand corner of the front wall of the casing; in like manner when elevated to position indicates that the vehicle is to turn to the left, as may be designated by the letter L placed in the upper left hand corner of the casing. Both indicator hands 8 and 9 may be simultaneously actuated, when it is arbitrarily assumed Ill tions 18 and 19 secured to the upper end of movable cores, 20 and 21, of a pair of-sole noids 22 and mounted within the casing and secured against accidental displacement by straps or suitable devices 24 and 25. It is to be understood that in place of the pin and slot connections, between the rocker arms and solenoid cores, any other suitable to branch circuits 29 and 30, b

loose connection may be employed.

The solenoids 22 and 23 may be energized from any suitable source of electricity-gen ,erally carried by automobiles, and for convenience in illustration I have shown in Fig. 4 a storage battery 26, connected by a battery lead and return 27 and 28, respectively,

solenoids are connected inlparal e1. Each of the branch circuits 29 an 30 are normally open through button switches 31 and 32,

which may be singly operated to close cir-' cuit through either of the solenoids 22 or 23, and consequently actuate the respective annunciator hands to indicate that the vehicle thereb rocking the arm 14 to move the s aft" will proceed to the right or to the left, as above described. In order to effect simultaneous actuation of the annunciators to indicate a stop, the button switches 31 and 32' may be shunted by a button switch 33, arranged between a pair of conductors 34: and 35 leading respectively from the branch circuits 29 and30, and a lead 36 connecting at the common junction 37 with the common return 28. I

It will be understood from the above that operation of the button 31 will cause current to flow from the source 26 throughthe battery lead 27, branch circuit 29, through button 31 to the gunction 37 and theme by the return 28 to, t e o posite pole of the source 26; The closing 0 this circuit energizes the solenoid 22, which draws in its core 20 against the action of a retractile sprin 33,

10 "an actuate the annunciator hand 8 to indicate proposed motion of the vehicle to the right. Similarly, o' eration of the button switch 32 closes the ranch circuit30, energizing the solenoid '23 which draws down its core 21 against the. action of a retractile .spring 39, thereby rocking the arm 15 to move the shaft 11 and actuate the hand 9 to indicate motion-of the vehicle to. the

left.

parallel through the shunt conductogs 34:

which the" 49 and 50. The lamp and 35 and the common lead 36, joined to a the junction 37, whence the current returns to the battery through thecommon; return 28.

Any suitable audible signal may be em-. ployed inconjunction with the annunciator signals above described, and I have illustrated an electric horn, the actuating motor 40 of which is connected in the common return 28 so that the current from either'of the branches 29 or 30, or both, will traverse thewindings of the same to cause sounding of the signal at each actuation of the annunciator signals.

The motor 40 may be located in any suitable position on the casin ,as for instance secured to the rear longitu inal wall 2 thereof, the motor shaft 41 passing through said by daylight, the same are not accurately discernible by night, even when under the-j illumination of a tail or other lamp. Accordingly switches 45 and 46 are arrangedto cut out the solenoid circuits 22and 23, and lamp circuits 47 and ;'48 may be cut in by switches circuits 47 and 48 are arranged in paralle withtheir respective solenoids 22 and 23, and, as will be understood from an inspection of the diagram illustrated in Fig. 4, operated through the button switches 31, 32 and 33, as above described for the solenoids.

The lamps 50 and 51 are preferablymounted on the rear wall 2 in the casing, at

either extremity thereof, and in registry with openi-n s in the front wall 2 inclosed by lenses 52 an 53 of red glass, through which the signal. lights maybe observed. Each of the lam s 50 and 51 have associated therewith re ector shades 54 and 55, for preventing the rays from the respective lamps from interfering with each other so as to confuse signals. "The reflector shades 54 and 55 are provided with lateral perforations 56 and- 57, to permit rays from the respective lamps to issue through lens-inclosed openings 58 and 59 in the end walls 3 of the casing, whereby pedestrians may be enabled to know whether the vehicle is to be driven around the corner occupied by them. I

The apparatus may also contain a lamp 60 arranged in a circuit 61 connected by the battery lead and return 27 and 28, respectively, and in shunt with the signaling apparatu's already described, so as not to interfere with the actuation of the same through the respective button switches. The lamp G0 in a manner similar to the lamps 50 and 51, is advantageouslymounted on the 1'ear-lonpsi V lamp 80 is 65' ime gitudinal wall2 within the casing, in registry with a central aperture 70 inclosed by a lens T1. of red glass, displaying the usual rear danger signal. The amp 60 may furthr r be employed to illuminate a number plate 72, as shown in Fig. 5, and for this purpose the bottom 1 of the casing is provided with a glass covered aperture 7 3 through which the rays of the lamp may pass downwardly onto the number plate 72, the same being secured to the vehicle or casing at pleasure.

A switch :52 may be employed for closing the circuit during night running, said switch, as indicated in Fig. 4, operating in the same direction with the switches 49 and 50 of the lamp circuits, and in a direction opposite to the switches and 46 of the solenoid circuits, so that these various switches may be assembled in a single piece of apparatus to be mounted on the dash-board of the'au tomobile and controlled from a single lever arm.

During night running the switches 45 and 46 are opened, and the switches 49, and 62 are closed when the lamp is immediately illuminated. In case a turn to the right is to be negotiated the button 31 is depressed, closinq the circuit through the lam 50 and horn a0, displaying the signal an simultaneously calling attention to the fact by the sounding of the horn. In a similiar manner the lamp 51 is illuminated by depressing the button 32; and both lamps are illuminated by depressing the button 33, at each instant the circuit being closed through the motor 40 to sound a horn and notify oncoming drivers that played.

I appreciate that, due to carelessness or inadvertence, drivers may fail to throw the switches at the proper time (at sundown and dawn) so as to secure the operation of the proper night or day signals,and for instance, may run long after dark on the operation of the indicator hands before discovering. the fact that the signal lights have not been switched in. Accordingly the various switches 45 16, 4.9 and 50 may be arranged to be permanently closed so as to actuate both the indicator hands and the signal lamps at all times; or these switches may be entirely dispensed with and the circuits for the various devices be controlled solely through the button switches.

In conjunction with the end signal lamps 50 and 51 it may be desirable to employ a central lamp 80 arranged in a circuit 81 to be closed through the button switch The circuit may be interrupted through the switch 82 during daylight, if desired; or the same may be dis ensed with, as indicated above, for the ot er lamp circuits. The mounted on the rear wall of tbs the signal is being discasing directly above the tail lamp 60,

central bulls-eye and In Fig. 6 is shown a steering wheel 63, on

which is suitably mounted a sleeve 64 pro vided with a web 65, wherein the buttons 31, 32 and 33 are mounted, so as to be convenient to the left fore-finger of the driver for depressing to actuate various signals, as hereinbefore described.

I have shown and described preferred and satisfactory constructions, butdesire it to be understood that changes can be made in the scope of: the appended claims:

1. In a. signaling apparatus for vehicles, the combination of a casing adapted for attachment to the vehicle and constructed with a pair of bulls-eyes, a pair of rock-shafts gournaled in said casing, a direction pointer removably mounted to move with each of said rock-shafts, an arm on each of said rock-shafts, a pair of solenoids mounted in said casing operatively connected to said arms, circuits for said solenoids, means for controlling said circuits to energize said solenoids either singly or simultaneously, and a pair of lamps mounted in said casing one opposite each of said bulls-eyes and arranged to be lighted either singly or simultaneously from said circuit-controlling means, substantially as described.

2. In signaling apparatus for vehicles,

the combination of a casing adapted for attachment to the vehicle and constructed with a front wall provided with central and lateral bulls-eyes, a pair of rock-shafts journaled in said casing, a direction pointer removably mounted to move with each of said rock-shafts, an arm on each of said rockshafts, a pair of solenoids mounted in said casing and operatively connected to said arms, circuits for said solenoids, means for controlling said circuits to energize said solenoids either singly or simultaneously, lamps mounted in said casing one opposite each of said lateral bulls-eyes and arranged to be lighted either singly or simultaneously from said circuit-controlling. means, and a lamp mounted in said casing opposite the arrangedto be lighted upon each simultaneous actuation of said firstnamed lamps, substantially as described.

3. In a signaling apparatus for vehicles, the combination of a casing adapted for attachment to the vehicle and constructed with perforated end walls and a front wall provided with central and lateral bulls-eyes, a pair of rock-shafts journaled in said casing, a direction pointer removably mounted to move with each of said rock-shafts, an arm projecting from each of said rock-shafts, a

pair of solenoids mounted in said casing and circuits to energize said solenoids, either singly or simultaneously, an audible signal multaneeusly from said circuit-eentrhliing carried by said casing and cen'nected in cirmeans, substantially as describe'i. 1&0 cuit to be sounded at each closing thereof, In testimony whereoffl afiiz: my and a plurality of lamps mounted in said in presence of two Witnesses. casing one opposite the central bulls-eye WILLIS M. and ene opposlte each of the lateral bulls- Witnesses: eyes and perforations in the end walls there- C, V. GARRINZ.

of and arranged to be lighted singly or si- Nn'mm Mmmmn 

